‘To be honest, Major, we should probably never have taken two of them in the first place, but we did. We’ve expended a great deal of money and effort on their basic training and now we need to see some return.’

Major Ellis frowned thoughtfully and for some reason, Commander Hay’s earlier comments on making sure the size of the bribe was commensurate with the inconvenience sprang to Captain Farenden’s mind.

Ellis said slowly, ‘Obviously, I’m always happy to oblige, ma’am, but it won’t be easy. As I’m sure you will have noticed, they’re not a strong team and will require a great deal of supervision. Furthermore, given the potential value of Farrell to this organisation . . .’

He paused to let the rest of the sentence hang in the air.

‘Gratifying to see you’ve acquired the Machiavellian skills of senior management already, Major. What do you want? What price must I pay?’

‘Officer North, ma’am, to assist me.’

‘And what compensation will she require for being pulled from her normal duties?’

‘Expedited route to the Hunter Division, ma’am.’

Commander Ellis didn’t even blink. ‘Agreed.’

He sighed. ‘I can’t say I’m looking forward to resuming the struggle to get Farrell to cut his hair, ma’am.’

She smiled. ‘I have every confidence, Major.’

Ellis stood up. ‘Then with your permission, ma’am, I’ll go and advise Officer North of her good fortune and assemble my new team.’

‘Thank you, Major.’

‘Just as a matter of interest, ma’am, who has the other team?’

‘I’ve given them to Lt Grint. His first assignment as a team leader.’

‘Interesting.’

The door closed behind him.

He met Officer North outside one of the briefing rooms and broke the glad tidings.

She remained quiet for some time.

‘It’s your choice,’ he said, sensing reluctance. ‘You don’t have to do it.’

‘But why me, sir?’

‘I felt this particular squad would respond well to a gentler touch.’

Celia North stared at him in complete incomprehension.

Ellis sighed. ‘So that will be up to me, then.’

2

2

Their official designation was Team 236. Parrish was disgusted.

‘How pathetic is that? What sort of a name is that for a team? We should be Team Terror. Or Team Timeshredder or something. What’s the point of wearing a really cool uniform,’ he glanced complacently at his black-clad self in the mirror, ‘if you don’t have a cool name to go with it?’

Typically, neither of his teammates made any response. One because silence was his habitual state – Parrish wasn’t even sure he could speak – and the other because in the unlikely event she was bright enough to have opinions of her own, he was pretty sure she would never express them in case they upset someone.